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Australian farmer-driven weed destroyer gets tested in Minnesota

A rotating mill attached to the combine separates weed seeds  from crops at harvest time and pulverizes the seeds so they cannot  sprout new weeds. Left to Right: Debalin Sarangi, Nathan  Zellmann, Ryan Mackenthun. In growing crops, much hinges on what happens down under — as in the soil. A McLeod County farmer is taking it a step further, exploring solutions from Down Under — as in Australia. Ryan Mackenthun operates a 2,200-acre corn and soybean farm with his brother-in-law, Nathan Zellmann. There, they’re piloting a new method of destroying weeds called harvest-time weed seed control, which relies on a rotating mill attached to the combine that separates weed seeds from harvested crops. The mill pulverizes weed seeds to the point where they no longer pose a threat to fields. “Being in the next generation of farmers, if you’re not looking for new ways of doing things, you shouldn’t expect different results,” says Mackenthun. “Working with the University of Minnesota is an opportunity
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The history of N rate recommendations in Minnesota: What farmers should know

Today Brad and Dan explore the background and rationale behind nitrogen rate recommendations in Minnesota. How have Minnesota's N rate recommendations evolved over time? What data does the MRTN approach take into account? How are these N rates organized?  TRANSCRIPT Guests: Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato) Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul) Additional resources: What to know about the MRTN approach Are you overspending on fertilizer? Corn Nitrogen Rate Calculator Corn fertilizer guidelines - U of M --- Click here to listen to all Advancing Nitrogen Smart podcast episodes. For the latest nutrient management information, subscribe to the Nutrient Management Podcast . And don't forget to subscribe to the Minnesota Crop News daily or weekly email newsletter, subscribe to our YouTube channel, like UMN Extension Nutrient Management on Facebook , follow us on X (formerly twitter) , and visit our website . If you have questions or commen
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What to know about manure and phosphorus management

By: Chryseis Modderman, Extension educator Manure is a first-rate, albeit smelly, treasure trove of nutrients, with all the macro- and micronutrients plants need to grow (though not necessarily in the right concentrations). While phosphorus often plays second fiddle to nitrogen, it is a vital nutrient for plant growth and worth managing carefully. Understanding how manure phosphorus behaves after application is important to know how best to manage manure. A crop farmer piped up from the back row of a meeting, “If phosphorus sticks to soil, why can’t I just bank it up in my soil and have it forever?” While it’s true that phosphorus is far less mobile in the soil than nitrogen, it can still be lost to the environment through runoff and erosion. In high-phosphorus soils, leaching can also occur. When excess phosphorus ends up in freshwater, it can cause harmful algal blooms and hypoxic zones where plants and animals can’t survive. Phosphorus management in manure poses a unique challenge a
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Save the dates: Nitrogen and nutrient management conferences return to Mankato, St. Cloud in February 2025

Save the dates:  The 11th annual Nitrogen: Minnesota's Grand Challenge and Compelling Opportunity Conference will take place on Tuesday, February 4, 2025 in Mankato, MN The 17th annual Nutrient Management Conference will be on Tuesday, February 18, 2025 in St. Cloud, MN University of Minnesota Extension and the Minnesota Agricultural Water Resource Center (MAWRC) bring together experts from the U of M, other land-grant universities, and the ag industry to present important soil fertility, nitrogen, and water quality research projects. Topics range from N-P-K, sulfur, and micronutrient fertilizer management for various cropping systems to soil health, cover crops, and manure and irrigation management. These two annual events offer opportunities to learn about the latest research and current university guidelines while networking with local and out-of-state researchers, farmers, and crop advisors, among others. Both conferences offer continuing education credits (CEUs) in soil and
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Nitrogen loss: Lessons learned from the 2024 growing season

Nitrogen loss: Lessons learned from the 2024 growing season is the big topic on today's episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast. What N application practices looked particularly bad in 2024? Some farmers are saying they are no longer going to apply fall N based on how 2024 played out. Is this warranted, or is it an overreaction? Is there any data back from split-application trials, or evaluations of rescue treatments? What did it tell us? In hindsight, what would have been ideal practices to have used this past year? What can we take away from the 2024 growing season with respect to how to manage fertilizer in the future? TRANSCRIPT Guests: Fabian Fernandez, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul) Jeff Strock, Extension soil scientist (Lamberton) Jeff Vetsch, U of M researcher (Waseca) Lindsay Pease, Extension nutrient and water management specialist (Crookston) Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato) Additional Resources: Supplemental nitrogen worksheet for c
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Fall alfalfa management in 2024

Craig Sheaffer, Extension forage agronomist Excess rainfall in the spring followed by late summer drought has made for another challenging year for growing alfalfa. Earlier we reviewed some strategies to deal with the wet spring conditions. See: Alfalfa news in summer of 2024 . Now we are in mid-fall and some new questions arise: Will drought this fall harm alfalfa? Minnesota’s alfalfa growing regions have had variable levels of drought this fall combined with above normal air temperatures. The drought will not lead to increased winterkill of alfalfa. Fall moisture deficits actually increase winter survival compared to well watered conditions. Irrigation is not necessary. The longer growing season is favorable for the dormancy reaction and accumulation of energy reserves which should reduce risk of winter injury. See   Fall cutting of alfalfa in 2023  for more information. Is it now safe to fall harvest? It is a safe time to harvest. Although we have not reached air temperatu
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Nitrification inhibitors in detail: Important information to help delay N loss

In episode 12 of the Advancing Nitrogen Smart series Brad and Dan talk in detail about nitrification inhibitors. What are the two types of inhibitors, and what are best practices for incorporation? How do soil type, temperature, and precipitation factor into farmer decision-making? How much time does a nitrification inhibitor buy you? In what circumstances should inhibitors be avoided altogether? These answers and many, many more on today's episode. TRANSCRIPT Guests: Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato) Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul) Additional resources: Nitrification inhibitors and manure: Do they work? Video: What to know about nitrogen inhibitors and other enhanced efficiency fertilizers A difference in degrees: Fall application efficiency at 50 Fahrenheit Nitrogen Smart --- Click here to listen to all Advancing Nitrogen Smart podcast episodes. For the latest nutrient management information, subscribe to the Nutrient Management P
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